Clear and beautiful charts in Excel without complications

Have you ever gotten lost among so many numbers and realized that Viewing data in graph form makes it much easier to interpret.? If you use ExcelYou probably already know that transforming data into visual images not only saves time but also allows for faster, more informed decisions. The potential of charts in Excel is enormous, whether you are a student, work in a company, or manage your own projects.

In this article I explain Everything you need to know about charts in Excel: from the types available and what each one is used for, to how to create them step by step. Plus, you'll discover some tips and tricks to get the most out of this powerful Microsoft tool.

Types of charts in Excel and their uses

Excel offers a wide variety of charts for adapt to each type of need and dataSome are ideal for comparing quantities, others for analyzing temporal evolution, proportions, distributions, hierarchies, and much more. By knowing each type of graph, you can choose the one that best fits your data and the message you want to convey..

Below, I summarize the main types of charts you can create in Excel, explaining in which cases each one is recommended and what it is used for.:

• Column and bar chartsThese are the most commonly used. They display rectangular bars vertically (columns) or horizontally (bars), depending on the number of elements they show and how they are most convenient to view. They are ideal for comparing different variables over time, quantities, percentages, or groups. Vertical columns are good for a few categories; horizontal bars are good for many..
• Line charts: These represent data by connecting the points with a line on a time or sequence axis. They are perfect for showing trends and variations over time., such as sales growth by month or the evolution of web traffic.
• Area charts: Very similar to line charts, but they fill in the area under the curve, which helps better visualize the magnitude of the changes. They are often used to compare the movement of several series over time and see the cumulative impact of each.
• Pie and ring charts: Also known as pie charts, They are useful for showing the proportion of each part to the wholeEasy to interpret, they highlight percentages and distributions. They are not recommended for use with multiple categories to avoid confusion.
• Scatter and bubble charts: Mark points on an X/Y plane to analyze the relationship between two (or three, with bubbles) numerical variables. They are key in scientific studies, mathematics and statistical analysis, where we seek to identify patterns and correlations.
• Histogram charts: Allow view in an orderly manner the frequency of values ​​distributed in intervalsThey are essential in statistics for analyzing the distribution of large volumes of data and detecting trends, means, medians, etc.
• Hierarchy charts: Also known as treemaps, they show the relationship from largest to smallest within a series of elements. They are ideal for comparing the relative weight of each component in a hierarchical structure.
• Waterfall charts: They show how positive and negative figures affect a total over a period or across different categories. Widely used in management and finance to see how balances change as amounts are added and subtracted.
• Surface or radial graphs: They visually represent several variables of one or more elements, creating geometric figures that allow comparing attributes or qualities between them. They are especially useful when comparing no more than five variables.
• Combination charts: Excel allows combine several types of charts into a single representation, for example, a column next to a line or an area, ideal when you need to compare variables of a different nature but that influence each other.

How to create a chart in Excel step by step

Creating a chart in Excel is a simple and very flexible process. The program allows you to customize almost any aspect and tailor the result to your needs. Below I guide you through the essential steps to create your first chart in Excel.:

1. Prepare and select your dataFirst, organize the table with the data you want to represent. Select the range that contains the relevant information.
2. Go to the 'Insert' tabAt the top of Excel, find and click the 'Insert' tab. Here you'll find all the available chart options.
3. Choose the right chart type. In the graphics section, select the type that best suits what you want to display. You can change it later if needed.
4. Insert the chartWhen you click on the desired type, Excel will automatically insert a blank chart, which you can adjust and edit to your liking.
5. Select the data sourceClick the 'Select Data' button in the toolbar of the 'Design' tab. From here, you can select the exact data range or modify the initial selection.
6. Adjust legends and categoriesYou can edit what appears on the axes, change the legend (series or line names), and define the words or values ​​displayed on the horizontal and vertical axes, choosing what best suits your chart.
7. Customize the styleOnce created, you can customize its appearance using the design brush to change colors, line styles, text formatting, and other visual elements. This way, your graphic will adapt to the image you want to convey.
8. Modify or edit whenever you wantThe chart type, data, or layout can be changed at any time. Simply select the chart and access the layout or formatting options again.

Tools and tips to improve your charts in Excel

Excel incorporates advanced features to help you choose and customize your charts.If you're unsure which chart to select, you can use the "Recommended Charts" command on the Insert tab. This feature analyzes your data and automatically suggests the most appropriate charts.

Once you've inserted the chart, you can access multiple design and formatting tools. Some of the aspects you can modify include:

• Axis titles y chart titles.
• Data labels to facilitate interpretation.
• Colors, styles and types of lines.
• Data filters to show or hide relevant information.
• Add or remove visual elements: legends, grids, trend lines, etc.

Whenever you click on the chart, you'll see the 'Design' and 'Format' tabs with all of these options and more. Personalization is key to making your chart clear, attractive and effective..

When to swap rows for columns in charts

There are times when the way you enter data into your table isn't optimal for the type of chart you have in mind. For example, if you want the columns to show months and the rows to show product categories, but the chart doesn't reflect that, you can reverse the way Excel represents data.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the generated graph.
2. Go to the 'Chart Design' tab and select 'Change Row or Column'.

This option is only available for certain chart types and when the data table is open in Excel. Modifying the row/column layout will help you highlight information in the most intuitive way..

When to use each type of chart in Excel

The choice of the most appropriate chart depends on the objective of your analysis and the type of data you have in hand.Here are some practical recommendations to help you avoid mistakes:

• Columns and bars: To compare quantities between different groups or, if you have many categories, opt for horizontal bars.
• Lines and areas: to show changes over time and highlight trends or accumulations.
• Circular or ring: perfect for showing percentages of the total, better if you include few categories to avoid confusion.
• Histogram: to analyze the frequency of values ​​in numerical intervals or ranges.
• Dispersion and bubbles: when you are interested in exploring the relationship between two or three quantitative variables, especially if you have a lot of data.
• Hierarchy: shows the relative weight of different elements within a structure.
• Waterfall : Visualizes inflows and outflows over time, ideal for balance sheets and financial analysis.
• Surface or radial: compares several attributes of one or more objects, especially useful in qualitative analysis.
• LONG DRINKS: represent different types of variables in a single graph, for example, total sales (bar) and percentage growth (line).

Advantages of using charts in Excel

Have the information visually organized allows you to interpret complex data in a simple and effective waySome of the main advantages of using charts in Excel are:

• Saving time in interpretation: Trends, anomalies and patterns are quickly identified.
• They facilitate decision-making: They are much more convincing when presenting ideas or results to other people or teams.
• Improve comprehension and memorization: By viewing data visually, it is better understood and remembered.
• full customization: You can adapt the graphic to your style, needs or corporate image.
• They allow you to analyze large volumes of data at a glance, something very useful in the professional environment.

Mastering charts in Excel isn't just a matter of knowing which button to press, but also understanding which type best suits your data, how to customize the presentation, and how to get the most out of the available tools. The more you practice and experiment with different options, the better results you will get in your analysis and presentations..